Airbus tallies orders for 220 airliners at Dubai

Airbus has wrapped up a successful 2019 Dubai Airshow, announcing new business for its widebody and single-aisle commercial jetliners while unveiling initiatives aligned with the company’s commitment to a more sustainable aviation industry.

Among the headline-making contracts during this five-day event were:

• 120 single-aisle A320 family aircraft order for low-cost carrier Air Arabia (73 A320neo, 27 A321neo, 20 A321XLR)
• 50 A350-900 widebody A350 XWB jets purchased by Emirates Airline
• 12 widebody A330neo, 20 A321XLR firm order from U.S. lessor GECAS
• 10 A321XLRs ordered by Saudi Arabia’s low-cost airline, flynas
• 8 A220-300 regional jets in Air Senegal’s memorandum of understanding

Total value of the 220 airliners is $38.83 billion, calculated from Airbus’ 2018 average list-price information and subsequent news on the recently introduced A321XLR.

Airbus reinforced its Dubai-based customer services teams for commercial aircraft by bringing them under one roof and growing staff from 85 to 105 to support the more than 1,000 Airbus aircraft in use with 36 operators across the Africa and Middle East region.

For a more sustainable air transport industry, Airbus officials announced initiatives during the Dubai Airshow that could further reduce emissions and make air travel even more fuel-efficient. Inspired by the formations of migrating birds, the fello’fly concept lets a cruising airliner retrieve energy from the wing vortex upwash of another aircraft flying 3km ahead of it, offering the potential of 5%-to-10% fuel savings on long-haul trips.

The Airbus Dubai Airshow exhibit featured the first airplane to compete in AirRaceE – an all-electric airplane racing championship – for which Airbus is providing insight and research to the competing teams.